Now it is being rumoured that Pienaar could be heading to his South African homeland this summer.

John Comitis has told KickOff.com that he is ready to sign Pienaar for Cape Town City, if the former Everton and Tottenham Hotspur star significantly drops his wage demands:

Manchester City's Bacary Sagna and Everton's Steven Pienaar in action

“If Steven Pienaar is prepared to drop his salary requirements by a zero, his signing is definitely something we would do.

“I’d love to bring Steven back to where it all started for him, remember I signed him for Ajax Cape Town in 2000 and used to advise him, so it would be fitting if he returns to finish his career in Cape Town.”

Cape Town City would no doubt be an interesting project for Pienaar. They are a brand new team, formed after Comitis purchased Mpumulanga Black Aces and relocated them 950 miles away in Cape Town – also renaming the club.

Eric Tinkler playing for Barnsley

Their manager is former Barnsley midfielder Eric Tinkler and Pienaar would be returning to his footballing home, having started his career at Ajax Cape Town in the year 2000 before heading to Europe.

The former Everton player has already admitted he could be tempted to return to South Africa, telling Soccer Laduma last month:

“Like I said, if any of the clubs would give me the opportunity, I would love to play in South Africa.”

Now it remains to be seen if Cape Town City or any other South African club can convince him to head home.

Mathew Nash

I’m Mathew Nash a 27 year old graduate in Sports Studies and I have an insatiable love for sport. With a particularly keen interest for the madcap world of football I have always been known amongst friends as a beacon for bizarre sporting trivia and knowledge. My other passion is for writing and hopefully combining the two will create a superb and entertaining marriage that will create, divide and share opinion.Mathew is a correspondent for the NextGen Series, Ligue 1 and Primeira Liga.